😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,434 in Barcelona versus $727 in Roxas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,473 in Barcelona versus $1,124 in Roxas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,512 in Barcelona versus $1,521 in Roxas.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 235% more expensive than in Roxas, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 78% above, Roxas is 47% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Roxas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.80€16.09
$3.81₱235
393.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€59.4
$16.51₱1,018
320.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.08€12.05
$2.42₱149
481.82%
Cappuccino
$3.12€2.66
$2.19₱135
42.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91€2.49
$0.49₱30.38
493.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87€1.60
$0.35₱21.71
434.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.00€3.42
$1.08₱66.8
270.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.64€3.97
$1.72₱106
169.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Roxas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19€1.02
$1.83₱113
-34.97%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.82
$1.20₱74.3
77.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84€1.57
$0.95₱58.4
93.68%
Eggs
$5.13€4.39
$2.00₱123
156.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.39€14.02
$5.50₱339
198.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.71€8.31
$3.78₱233
156.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.65€16.81
$8.26₱509
137.89%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13€2.68
$2.31₱143
35.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.18€1.87
$1.53₱94.6
42.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.46€2.11
$2.39₱147
2.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.77€2.37
$1.23₱75.6
125.20%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$2.10₱129
0.95%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23€1.90
$2.04₱125
9.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.27
$0.72₱44.10
106.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.78
$0.62₱38.41
46.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.26€6.21
$2.84₱175
155.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.29€7.09
$9.10₱561
-8.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.32
$0.88₱54.4
75.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68€2.30
$1.73₱107
54.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Roxas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.07€2.63
$0.28₱17.56
996.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.93€22.18
$10.32₱636
151.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.34€2.86
$0.75₱46.34
345.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.88€1.61
$0.26₱16.26
623.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.98€29.92
$2.13₱131
1542.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.74€1.49
$1.20₱74.1
45.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K€31.2K
$21.9K₱1.4M
66.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K€27.0K
$17.8K₱1.1M
76.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Roxas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$183€156
$106₱6,528
72.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.70€13.43
$15.35₱946
2.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.73€31.42
$21.67₱1,336
69.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Roxas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.5€45.76
$28.18₱1,737
89.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.13€14.65
$4.80₱296
256.87%
Cinema Ticket
$11.51€9.85
$4.83₱298
138.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Roxas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$952€815
$133₱8,181
617.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K€13.8K
$7,021₱432.8K
130.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Roxas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.5€70.5
$28.46₱1,754
189.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.47€34.62
$18.38₱1,133
120.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€92.2
$70.2₱4,330
53.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€107
$59.6₱3,673
110.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Roxas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,668€1,426
$270₱16.7K
517.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,288€1,101
$194₱12.0K
563.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,663€2,278
$483₱29.8K
451.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,904€1,628
$406₱25.1K
368.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,513€6,427
$2,527₱155.8K
197.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,178€4,429
$1,032₱63.6K
401.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Roxas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,451€2,096
$590₱36.3K
315.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.12
6.75
-53.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: August 17, 2026
Last update for Roxas: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,668 in Barcelona and $270 in Roxas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 316% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $17.00 in Roxas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $328 vs $186 per month, with Roxas cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Barcelona vs Roxas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Roxas?
Barcelona and Roxas differ by about 235% in total monthly costs ($2,434 vs $727 including rent). Roxas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Roxas?
Average pay runs 316% higher in Barcelona, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Roxas?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,668 in Barcelona versus $270 in Roxas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Roxas?
Childcare runs $952 in Barcelona versus $133 in Roxas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 77% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $727 in Roxas versus $2,434 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Roxas but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Roxas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Roxas?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Roxas safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Roxas are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Barcelona or Roxas?
Expats usually find Roxas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 235% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.